With so many options to choose from in the retail stratosphere – especially with the constant insurgence of large scale retailers making their way onto the island – it can be pretty easy to be overwhelmed with choice when it comes to shopping.

I think supporting local boutiques is a great way to help local artisans continue to create unique items. There are so many talented artisans and designers living on the island making hand-made, creative goods, you would be surprised.

The Milkman’s Daughter is a cute boutique full of clothing, accessories, gifts and home decor items carefully curated by SmokingLily. It was so hard to choose an outfit from this store because they have so many one-of-a-kind items. I felt like I could have spent hours in there looking at everything they have to offer. Some of my favourite items in the store are WinnieTam’s hand-crafted, animal-inspired ceramic jewelry. Her pins and earrings hold a soft spot in my heart because I am such a sucker for anything cat related. If you are a true cat lover like me, her delicate hand-painted earrings and pins are perfect for you or any cat person in your life.

The pink Larque rose bud earrings that I am wearing are hand-sculpted out of clay by a designer right here in Victoria. Every rose petal is sculpted to perfection. I can’t even imagine the time and patience it takes to create a set of these beautiful earrings. My Smithstine’s necklace is made out of hand-carved copper from a designer based out of Edmonton, Alta. My whole outfit is designed and hand silk screened by SmokingLily which is based in Victoria and has its flag ship store on lower Johnson Street. SmokingLily believes in manufacturing everything locally instead of contracting out overseas while still maintaining affordability for the customer. If you feel like being inspired and want to feast your eyes on some unique clothing and objects then head on down to The Milkman’s Daughter on Government Street.

If you are a local designer or artisan and would like to be considered for a feature in a future issue of Monday Magazine, please email me at laurajaneatellier@gmail.com